ALFRED — Following a closed hearing Wednesday afternoon in Alfred Town Court, the murder case against an Allegany County man charged in the June 26 stabbing death of a Farmington man was turned over to a grand jury, Allegany County District Attorney Keith Slep said.

Roy E. Martinez, 26, of Alfred, is charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter for allegedly fatally stabbing Jacob M. Gray, 29, of Farmington, multiple times. Alfred police said they responded at 3:39 a.m. June 26 to 1407 Waterwells Road, Trailer 2, where they found Gray dead at the scene.

Police said the stabbing followed a brief altercation. Aside from Martinez and Gray, police said a 32-year-old woman, who lived in the trailer, and a 32-year-old man were there as well.

Town Justice Wende Bush granted a request by Public Defender Barbara Kelley, representing Martinez, that the hearing be closed to the press and the public. Kelley cited state criminal procedure law Section 180.60, which states, in part, “The court may, upon application of the defendant, exclude the public from the hearing and direct that no disclosure be made of the proceedings.”

Asked afterward why she had requested the hearing be closed, Kelley said, “I’m not going to try the case in the press.”

Bush said before the special session began the felony hearing would be closed to the public and press. She later said she would speak to the defense about whether it felt the hearing should be open.

Several people gathered outside the building Wednesday before the closed session began. Most of them left, but Emily Noonan, who said she and the others were there to support Martinez, waited outside for the proceedings to end.

“I love you, Roy. Stay strong, OK?” she said to Martinez as officers brought him back to a sheriff’s office car to be taken back to the county jail.

While waiting for court to end, Noonan, of Alfred, said she has known Martinez for about five years.

“We love Roy. He cares about his friends. We showed up to support him, to let him know that we care about him,” she said. “We don’t want him to think we don’t like him anymore.”

Noonan said Martinez has cared enough to ask how she’s doing and what she’s thinking.

“He’s helped me through some difficult times,” she said.

Noonan called the June 26 incident at Trailer 2 on Waterwells Road “a tragedy.” She said she did not know Gray, a Victor and Finger Lakes Community College graduate.

A hearing in the Martinez case was previously scheduled for July 1 in town court, but was adjourned. Noonan estimated about 15 to 18 people showed up that day.